Conclusion
It might be fair to label the KBear KB02 a one trick pony, but it’s an impressive trick nonetheless!
Budget IEMs almost always struggle with soundstage dimensions, and staging depth is typically non-existent. Admittedly not every listener cares terribly much about staging, but if you’re someone who does these are quite the bargain.
I’ve been in this hobby a long time and it’s been fascinating to watch the sudden proliferation of Bone Conduction Drivers propagate so quickly. Just several years ago they were a rarity, and now thanks to the KB02s they’re available to everyone… regardless of budget.
Of course the KB02s aren’t without fault. Bass could be meatier, vocals aren’t solid enough for my taste and they’re quite dark. I get the feeling they’ve been tuned to maximise the staging advantages BCDs generate, which is smart provided you’re happy to live with those shortcomings.
In short they’re easy to recommend, particularly to anyone yet to experience the charms of BCD drivers for themselves who’s keen for a taste – at $50 they won’t cost you more than a few trips to McDonalds.
Comments